WashU Enterprise AI Tools | AI Tools @ WashU | Guidance on Responsible Use | For Developers | Compute & Research Infrastructure | Get Help Building or Scaling Your Project
It is vitally important that you do not enter any WashU intellectual property or secure data — including deidentified healthcare data of any kind — into any platform that is not specifically approved for those uses.
Students: please ensure the responsible use of generative AI by reviewing your course expectations for the authorized use of generative AI. It is your responsibility to seek clarification from your instructor prior to using these or any other generative AI tools.
WashU Enterprise AI Tools
WashU provides students, faculty, and staff with access to secure, institutionally supported generative AI tools — including advanced models that support learning, research, teaching, and administrative work.
These tools include built-in data protections to safeguard university information, and all are approved for general university data use. However, not every tool is approved for use with WashU protected health information (PHI).
See the comparison table below for details on each tool’s availability, capabilities, and approval for use with WashU PHI and FERPA-protected data.
| WashU Enterprise AI Tool | Powered by | Content Creation Capabilities | FREE for Students | FREE for Faculty / Staff | Paid Options for Faculty / Staff | Approved for use with WashU PHI | Approved for use with FERPA data | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini |    |  | | Google AI Pro upgrade | | | Gemini Notebook** | |
| Claude Edu | Anthropic | | * |  | Paid Subscription | | | Cowork, Code, Design |
| ChatGPT Edu | OpenAI | | | | Paid Subscription | | | Codex |
| Ask WashU | WashU IT | | | | — | | | Secure AI APIs (APIM)*** |
| Copilot Chat | Microsoft | | | | Microsoft 365 Copilot upgrade | | | Copilot Studio**** |
** Gemini Notebook is not approved for use with protected health information (PHI). It is available to Danforth Campus students, faculty, and staff who log in with their WashU Key. Access for WashU Medicine faculty, staff, and students is available only by approved exception.
*** Secure AI APIs (APIM) are available to WashU faculty, researchers, and staff upon request.
**** Copilot Studio is available with Microsoft 365 Copilot Upgrade
Claude Edu
A secure, AI workspace for writing, research, coding, data analysis, visualization, large-document review, and collaborative work.
Available to Danforth undergraduate and graduate students who complete the AI Literacy module for free and to WashU faculty and staff at an additional cost.
NOTE: This tool is not approved for use with WashU PHI.
Google Gemini
A secure, general-purpose AI assistant for writing, brainstorming, analysis, coding, and image generation.
Available to all WashU users.
Ask WashU
Secure, university-supported chatbot with customizable configurations and navigators trained on WashU information.
Available to all WashU users.
ChatGPT Edu
A versatile AI workspace for advanced reasoning, coding, data analysis, deep research, studying, and collaborative work. Includes Codex, OpenAI’s agentic coding and automation tool, at no additional cost.
Available to undergraduate students who complete the AI Literacy Canvas module, and to select faculty and staff.
Gemini Notebook
A source-grounded AI tool for summarizing, organizing, and synthesizing uploaded materials, especially useful for research and study.
Available to Danforth Campus students, faculty, and staff by logging in with a WashU Key, and to WashU Medicine individuals by approved exception.
NOTE: This tool is not approved for use with WashU PHI.
Copilot Chat
An AI assistant for everyday productivity, including drafting, summarizing, brainstorming, and working with Microsoft 365 files.
Available to all WashU users.
NOTE: This tool is not approved for use with WashU PHI.
AI Tools @ WashU
View a list of existing AI tools or tools with built-in AI capabilities (for example, Zoom AI companion) and their recommendation status, including use with sensitive information, such as HIPAA- and FERPA-protected data.
Procuring New AI Tools
To purchase or begin using a new AI tool, including software with AI-integrated features, follow WashU IT’s process for evaluating and procuring solutions.
Guidance on Responsible Use
It is the user’s responsibility to protect sensitive data and verify content when using generative AI tools.
- Is usually claimed to be the property of the vendor.
- Is not considered private.
- May be added to the tool’s knowledge base and provided to other users.
Review university, school, and department handbooks.
- Schools will be developing and updating their policies as we learn more about AI tools.
- Faculty members should teach and advise students about policies on the permitted uses of AI in classes and on academic work.
- Students are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification about these policies.
- AI may contribute intentional and unintended forms of plagiarism and falsification of data.
- AI has made it easier for malicious actors to create sophisticated scams at a far greater scale.
- Continue to follow security best practices and report suspicious messages via the Phish Report button in Outlook or email to phishing@wustl.edu.
Schools will be developing and updating their policies as we learn more about AI tools.
- Faculty members should teach and advise students about policies on the permitted uses of AI in classes and on academic work.
- Students are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification about these policies.
- AI may contribute intentional and unintended forms of plagiarism and falsification of data.
For Developers
WashU provides access to coding agents that help developers write, test, debug, and accelerate software development. These tools are also lowering the barrier to prototyping, making it easier for researchers, students, and staff to explore code-based ideas and contribute to early-stage development.
Claude Code
Claude Code helps developers and researchers across WashU move from idea to working code faster. Whether building a feature, fixing a bug, or carrying out a refactor, work can be handed off directly to Claude. It plans the implementation, makes changes across multiple files, runs tests, and iterates with as much oversight as the project requires. Claude Code is available from the command line or desktop app, with sessions that can also be started, monitored, or managed from a mobile device. It also supports cloud-based tasks that continue running independently, even when the laptop is closed.
Codex by ChatGPT
Codex is OpenAI’s coding agent, available as an optional add-on to licensed ChatGPT Edu users. Codex can help users build, test, debug, and refine code-based projects, making it useful for software development, research workflows, automation, and rapid prototyping.
Unlike other OpenAI tools available through ChatGPT Edu, Codex is not approved for use with data protected by HIPAA or FERPA. Because Codex carries additional responsibilities and potential risks, users must request access and complete a responsible use addendum before being granted access.
NOTE: WashU School of Medicine ChatGPT Edu licensed users should submit a WashU Medicine AI Exception Request before accessing Codex.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It integrates directly into development environments such as Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, and JetBrains, as well as GitHub.com, and can help with real-time code suggestions, autocompletion, chat-based assistance, automated code review, and agentic task execution.
Faculty, staff, and departments may submit a service request for GitHub Copilot access through WashU IT. GitHub is not approved for confidential, HIPAA, or other protected information.
Secure AI API Endpoints
API access to AI endpoints within the secure sandbox is available for use at cost, enabling customization, multiple LLMs, programmatic access, and more.
Available to WashU faculty, researchers, and staff upon request.
Compute & Research Infrastructure
WashU offers several computing environments for AI-intensive research, including centrally managed research computing, secure API access, and discipline-specific compute clusters. Here’s how to get access.
Research Infrastructure Services is WashU IT’s centrally managed research computing platform for research faculty across the university. RIS operates the Compute1 and Compute2 high-performance computing clusters, offering thousands of CPU cores and GPUs, including H100s, for computational and AI-intensive research, along with enterprise data storage and a secure enclave for controlled data.
McKelvey Engineering IT operates a school-supported compute cluster for McKelvey faculty, staff, and students doing engineering-focused computational work. The team also provides research technology consulting, software licensing, and general engineering IT support.
The Research Computing and Informatics Facility operates the Center for High-Performance Computing, WashU Medicine’s largest GPU cluster. Built for imaging and health data research and available to the broader WashU community and external partners, RCIF offers thousands of CPU cores, more than 80 GPUs, multi-petabyte storage, and AI and deep-learning consulting.
Get Help Building or Scaling Your Project
Research Projects
Need help building or scaling an AI-enabled tool or application, or writing an external grant proposal that requests cloud compute credits? The Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator provides consulting, software development, and technical expertise, including cost estimates to include in a proposal.
Clinical Applications
Connect with the Center for Health AI (CHAI) to leverage the combined expertise of BJC Health and WashU Medicine, advancing leading-edge research in a unique environment where patients, providers, students, and scientists can see and benefit from the tangible impact of artificial intelligence in action.
Administrative Projects
Accelerate administrative efficiency at WashU by leveraging AI-powered solutions to automate workflows, reduce redundancies, and enhance service delivery. Faculty and staff are invited to submit your project idea through IT’s Administrative AI intake form.
Get in touch
Contact us to ask about tools, compute access, or to add a resource to this page.